READ: Mark 5:1-20
And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. – Mark. 5:20
After Jesus had crossed over the sea, He arrived in the region of the Decapolis, where both Jews and Gentiles lived. There, they raised pigs, unclean animals. As soon as He arrived, a man came out of a cave towards Him, possessed by many demons, tormented beyond measure, and a terror to his surroundings. No one had been able to subdue him, and he lived in the wilderness day and night, screaming and tormenting himself. The demons reveal their true nature: they come to destroy lives.
When the man runs to Jesus, he falls on his knees and screams out. In fact, it is the demons speaking: while no human could overcome them, they acknowledge that Jesus can, as “the Son of God, the Most High.” Jesus forces them to reveal their identity by asking, “What is your name?” They are Legion, but they cannot stand against Jesus. At His command to leave the man, they beg Him to be allowed to enter a herd of pigs, since they do not want to leave the land. Jesus allows this. Once possessed, the approximately 2,000 swine rush into the sea. In this way, Jesus frees the man from his tormentors.
The swineherds see what happens and tell others about it. The people come to Jesus and see the former demoniac sitting calmly. Jesus has shown who He is: He is powerful enough to rule over untamed forces of nature, but also to overcome untameable demons, no matter how many there may be. He is also powerful enough to make His message of salvation heard wherever He wants. In this worldly Decapolis, He leaves a messenger: the man is commanded to stay there and testify in his family about Jesus’ compassion and deliverance. And the man even does this throughout the surrounding area.
Why are there still active devils on earth?
Singing: Hymn 47:8
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